Watchman Of The South

For the Watchman of the South.

ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF EAST HANOVER PRESBYTERY.

Pursuant to adjournment, Presbytery met at Namozene Church, in the county of Amelia, and was opened with a sermon by Rev. Wm. Neill, Moderator, from I Cor. i. 23, 24—"But we preach Christ," &c.

Present—Ministers—Wm. S. Plumer, D. D., Joseph E. Curtis, Wm. Neill, Theodorick Pryor, John Leyburn, J. D. Dudley, F. S. Sampson and B. M. Hobson.

Ruling Elders—S. Wifree, H. Nelson, B. Emerson, J. H. Saunders, Cyrus Dillard, J. W. Dyer and R. D. Booker.

Absent—Ministers J. H. Turner, J. M. Atkinson, A. L. Holladay, A. H. Wright and Wm. P. Buel—the last three being Foreign Missionaries.

Rev. Joseph E. Curtis was chosen Moderator, and Rev. F. S. Sampson and Mr. B. Emerson temporary Clerks.

Rev. P. J. Sparrow, of West Hanover Presbytery, being present, was invited to sit as a corresponding member.

A certificate was presented dismissing Rev. S. J. Cassels from Flint River Presbytery to join this Presbytery, and after the prescribed examination, Mr. Cassels was accordingly received.

Wm. Maxwell, LL. D., President of Hampden Sidney College, being introduced by the Moderator, appeared before the Presbytery, and with some explanatory remarks, communicated certain resolutions of the Board of Trustees of said College, which were read, received, and ordered to be recorded, and are as follows:

"At a meeting of the President and Trustees of Hampden Sidney College, held in the Philosophical Hall, on the day of September, 1841, on motion of Mr. Maxwell, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

"Whereas the College stands in great need of the renewed and cordial support of all its friends who can be excited and engaged to furnish it with students, and also with such pecuniary aid as shall enable the Board to maintain it on its actual footing for the present, and to establish it on a solid basis for the future, by the enlargement of its permanent fund to a proper amount: and whereas the Board recall and recognize, with great pleasure, the interesting fact that this institution was originally founded within the bounds of the Presbytery of Hanover, (since divided into the Presbyteries of East Hanover and West Hanover,) under the auspices of the said Presbytery, by a licentiate laboring under its care, and was at first, and has been ever since, mainly supported by the clergy and laity of the Presbyterian Church within those bounds, aided from time to time by the liberal services and contributions of others in various parts of our State: and whereas the Board feel confident that while the College has already rewarded the bounty of its founders and patrons by what it has actually done for the cause of religion and learning, and more particularly in educating a number of able and faithful Ministers of the Gospel, it may and will, if duly strengthened and enlarged, do much for the same cause, and in the same way: and whereas it is the firm and fixed intention of the Board to continue to conduct the institution confided to their care in the spirit and with the views of its first founders and friends, so that it shall always be and abide a Christian College, and as such, prove a great and lasting blessing to the Church and to the country: Therefore

"1. Resolved, That the Presbyteries of East Hanover and West Hanover be and they are hereby solemnly requested to recognize the College as being under the more immediate patronage of their bodies, in such a manner as they shall think most proper.

"2. Resolved, That the said Presbyteries be and they are hereby requested to adopt such measures as they shall deem most suitable and convenient to furnish the College with an increased number of students, and to supply the Board with funds for its immediate support, and for the enlargement of the permanent fund to a proper amount.

"3. Resolved, That the President be and he is hereby authorized and requested to communicate these resolutions to the said Presbyteries in such manner and with such explanations as he shall deem proper."

Rev. P. J. Sparrow, of West Hanover Presbytery, and Chairman of a committee appointed by that body at its late sessions, being introduced by the Moderator, appeared before Presbytery, and communicated certain resolutions of the said Presbytery of West Hanover, which were read, received, and ordered to be recorded. [See abstract of the proceedings of West Hanover Presbytery.]

After some free conversation on the subject the following resolutions were unanimously adopted by the Presbytery, viz:

1. Resolved, That the Presbytery most cordially accepts the overture of the President and Trustees of Hampden Sidney College in what they understand and believe to be its true meaning and spirit, and will cheerfully concur with its sister Presbytery of West Hanover in its said resolutions, which it does hereby, mutatis mutandis, ratify and adopt.

2. Resolved, That Rev. Wm. S. Plumer, D. D., Rev. J. Leyburn, Rev. S. J. Cassels, and Mr. J. C. Hobson and Dr. George Fitzgerall, be a committee to act and co-operate with the said committee of West Hanover Presbytery in carrying the said resolutions into effect.

3. Resolved, That in the judgment of this Presbytery, it is expedient that a Convention of all the Ministers and one Elder from each Church in the bounds of the Presbyteries of West and East Hanover, be held at Farmville on the 4th Wednesday of June next, at 12 o'clock, M., to consider and adopt proper measures on the whole subject.

It was resolved that the next stated meeting of Presbytery be held in Upper Church, Nottoway county, on September 29th, at twelve o'clock, M.

The report of the Treasurer of the Domestic Missionary Society of East Hanover Presbytery was presented and received, showing a balance of $101 06; and the Churches which had not taken up a collection for this object were directed to do so.

Bishop Theodorick Pryor and Ruling Elder Cyrus Dillard were chosen Commissioners to the next General Assembly.

Alternates—Bishop Wm. S. Plumer, D. D. and Michael Greeter.

Vacant Churches were ordered to be supplied as follows:

New Kent—Rev. J. E. Curtis, one Sabbath at discretion, and to administer the Sacraments, if thought proper.

Prince George—Rev. J. Leyburn and Rev. Wm. Neill, one Sabbath each at discretion, and to administer the Sacraments, if thought proper.

Cabin Point—Rev. J. D. Dudley, one Sabbath at discretion.

It was resolved that hereafter Presbytery present to each licentiate, at the time of his licensure a Bible, and that the Stated Clerk be directed to call on the Treasurer for the cost.

It was resolved that when Presbytery adjourns, it adjourn to meet in Norfolk on Wednesday, May 11th, 1842, at 7 o'clock, P. M.

Mr. Robert C. Galbraith, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, was received upon certificate under the care of this Presbytery.

On Sabbath morning (24th) Messrs. J. M. Cake, J. P. Greenleaf and Wm. Lyon were licensed in due form to preach the Gospel.

The Moderator proposed the constitutional questions and offered prayer, and Dr. Plumer presented a Bible and delivered a short charge to each of the licentiates, in the name of the Presbytery.

JOHN LEYBURN,

Stated Clerk.